It’s Weprin vs. Turner for Weiner’s Seat

David Weprin's strength as a campaigner made him an obvious party choice. Flickr/lancmanoffice.

The party picks for former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner’s seat are finally in.

Minutes after Weiner announced his resignation on June 16, Democrats and Republicans were already scrambling to find a replacement for the disgraced politician, who had admitted to texting and tweeting sexually explicit photos and messages to multiple young women.

The Democrats have selected State Assemblyman David Weprin to run against Republican choice Bob Turner in a special election — scheduled for September 13 — for the heavily Democratic Congressional District 9.

The state’s Independence party also threw their support behind the Queeens pol.

Why Weprin? He’s got some (political) family ties…David Weprin is a freshman assemblyman, but comes from a family deeply entrenched in the Queens Democratic machine, reported the Daily News. Before coming in last place in the 2009 election for city comptroller, Weprin served eight years as a City Councilman in a seat now occupied by his brother Mark Weprin. The brothers’ father was the late Assembly Speaker Saul Weprin — a big name in Queens politics.

David Weprin isn’t known for possessing his father’s charisma, but he is known as a strong and experienced campaigner, reported Politicker New York. And it doesn’t hurt that his father was one of the most popular Jewish politicians in recent Queens history — Congressional District 9 is one of the most heavily Jewish voting districts in the country, according to several reports.

What, if anything, is at stake? Weprin’s political relationships and campaign knowledge make him an obvious pick for the Democrats. But Weprin isn’t particularly interested in being a congressman, as he told the Daily News last month. And that is perhaps one of the top reasons he was selected by the party. Confused?

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